Requirements for Admission and Study
Admission
Admission to the program requires an undergraduate degree in science or engineering and a minimum of 1500 on the General Section of the Graduate Record Examination. A minimum of 49 hours of course work is required to complete the degree. Up to 50% of the course requirements may be accepted as transfer credits from graduate work done in other science and engineering programs.
UAH Catalog - Graduate Admissions Information.
Examinations
Students are required to satisfactorily complete a Program I Examination during the first two years after entering the program. The Program I exam covers four general areas: 1) Structure and Analysis of Materials, 2) Condensed Matter Science, 3) Thermodynamic and Kinetics, and 4) Structure, Processing and Properties of Materials. These examinations, prepared by faculty from all these campuses, are given twice yearly in May and December.
A Program II Examination is given after students have completed Program I exam, selected a research advisor and thesis supervisory committee, and decided on a research topic and specific course of study. The Program II exam is more research oriented and is prepared by the supervisory committee. The student is expected to write and orally defend a thesis proposal after completing the written part of the exam.
Programs of Study
The following are the specific programs of study available after passing the Program I Examinations.
- Structure and Properties of Materials
Must take at least one instrumentation course, one spectroscopy course, and one methods of chemical analysis course.
- Macromolecular Materials
Must take at least one advanced organic or advanced inorganic, one macromelcular chemistry course, and one macromolecular physics course.
- Electrical, Optical, and Magnetic Materials
Must take at least one spectroscopy course and two courses dealing with electonic, optical, and magnetic properties of materials.
- Materials Processing
Must take at least two courses in solidification and crystal growth and one in processing technology.
- Biomaterials
Must take at least two courses in structure and properties of biomaterials.
